Adjusting arrangement

ABSTRACT

AN ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR EFFECTING PRECISION LENGTH ADJUSTMENTS. A STRESSABLE STRUCTURAL MEMBER HAS TWO SPACED END SECTIONS AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION INTEGRAL WITH THE END SECTIONS AND SPLIT IN THE DIRECTION FROM ONE TO THE OTHER OF THE END SECTIONS SO THAT IT IS PROVIDED WITH A CENTER GAP OF SUBSTANTIALLY LENTICULAR CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION. A STRESSING ARRANGEMENT SERVES TO COMPRESS THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THIS GAP TO VARYING DEGREES, WHEREBY THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENSION OF THE MEMBER INCREASES AS THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION IS PROGRESSIVELY COMPRESSED AND DECREASES AS THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION IS PROGRESSIVELY RELIEVED OF COMPRESSIVE STRESS TRANSVERSELY OF THE GAP.

United States Patent 01 fice 3,608,364 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 ADJUSTINGARRANGEMENT Karl Baur, Neueuburg, Switzerland, assignor to Contraves AG,Zurich, Switzerland Filed July 3, 1968, Ser. No. 742,372 Claimspriority, application Switzerland, July 6, 1967, 9,574/ 67 Int. Cl. GOSd3/00 US. CI. 7388 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustingdevice for effecting precision length adjustments. A stressablestructural member has two spaced end sections an intermediate sectionintegral with the end sections and split in the direction from one tothe other of the end sections so that it is provided with a center gapof substantially lenticular cross-sectional configuration. A stressingarrangement serves to compress the intermediate section transversely ofthis gap to varying degrees, whereby the longitudinal extension of themember increases as the intermediate section is progressively compressedand decreases as the intermediate section is progressively relieved ofcompressive stress transversely of the gap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anadjusting arrangement in general, and more particularly to an adjustingarrangement for effecting precision length adjustments.

In many applications, for instance in the precise adjustment andpositioning of astronomical devices and the like, it is necessary toeffect very precise adjustments of the positioning. For this purpose itis known to vary the longitudinal extension of certain structuralmembers. However, if the length adjustments which are to be obtained arevery small, for instance on the order of between 0.1 and 2,, and if itis necessary that they be exactly reproducible, then the knownarrangements of this type are insufficient for the desired purposesbecause they admit of unintended variations in the selected length ofthe structural member, and on the other hand, are not precise enough toprovide for the minute length variations which it is desired to obtain.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome thesedisadvantages.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an adjustingarrangement capable of providing precise, and precisely reproduciblelength variations of structural members, which length variations are ofsmall but precisely adjustable magnitude.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with these objects, and otherswhich will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my inventionresides in providing, in an arrangement of the type here underdiscussion, a stressable structural member having two end sections whichare spaced in a predetermined direction and a middle section whichincludes an intermediate portion between and integral at its oppositeends with the end sections. A stressing portion is juxtaposed with thisintermediate portion and rigid with the aforementioned opposite endsthereof, and this stressing portion defines with the intermediateportion a gap having a given maximum width transversely of theaforementioned predetermined direction. Stressing means is associatedwith the intermediate portion and with the stressing portion and isoperative for varying the width of the gap to thereby obtain concomitantvariations in the distance between the aforementioned end sections.

The stressable structural member, which may obvious- 1y be of variousdifferent configurations ranging for example from a rod to a flat orannular wall, may in a currently preferred embodiment of my invention besplit in its middle section. In other words, the middle sectionintermediate the end sections may be split, advantageously in such amanner as to obtain two portions which bulge in directions oppositelyaway from each other and symmetrically to the plane of symmetry with theintersecting end sections and the middle section. I thus obtain betweenthese portions a gap of substantially lenticular crosssectionalconfiguration. By subjecting the opposite portions to compression acrossthis gap in direction towards one another against the elastic restoringforce of the material of the structural member, I cause small changes inthe distance between the end sections of the structural member, that isI vary the longitudinal extension of the structural member. The extentof longitudinal variation will of course depend on the extent to which Icompress the opposite portions towards one another, and to reverse thethus-obtained elongation of the structural member I need merely relaxthis compression.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single figure is a diagrammaticpartly sectioned elevation of an arrangement comprising my invention inone embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawing I have shown byway of example a single instance of an application of my presentinvention. It is to be understood, however, that this is not to beconsidered limiting in any way and constitutes merely a specificapplication of my invention for a specific problem.

The drawing is assumed to illustrate a supporting arrangement for aprecision clinometer, for example a phototheodolite. The measuringinstrument itself is not illustrated because it is not essential for anunderstanding of the invention.

Reference numeral 1 in the drawing designates a base or supporting ringwhich is suitably mounted on a base, for example a non-illustratedpedestal. A second ring mount 2 overlies the supporting ring 1 and itsdistance from the latter is adjustable, as is its horizontal alignmentby means of three wedge members 3 which are interposed between the ringmounts 1 and 2 at equi-angularly spaced locations, that is at locationswhich are offset circumferentially from one another by It should bementioned here, if it is not already obvious, that the mountingarrangement illustrated is circular, the portion which is not shown notrequiring such illustration because the invention may be readilyunderstood from what has been reproduced in the drawing.

To obtain height adjustments of the member 2 with reference to themember 1, or to obtain horizontal adjustments of the member 2, the wedgemembers 3 are moved in the direction of the arrows P3 by suitablenon-illustrated drive arrangements, for instance screw spindles or thelike. This effects adjustment of the member 2 in the direction of thearrows P2, and it is obvious that horizontal adjustment is obtained bymoving only certain of the members 3, or by moving the the members 3 todifferent extents. Of course, the drive arrangements for the members 3may be suitably constructed, for instance so that if they are operatedby hand a full turn of the screw spindle may effect a tilting of thering member 2 to a given extent, for instance 12 seconds of arc.However, what has been described thus far is not novel and does notconstitute a part of the invention.

The ring member 2 supports a cylindrical member 4 having an upper edgeface whose plane LE is identified by the chain line and on which aprecision measuring device, such as a phototheodolite or the like, issupported. To obtain accurate readings of such devices it is necessarythat they be precisely adjustable in a horizontal plane, and accordinglythe upper edge face of the cylindrical member 4 must similarly beprecisely adjustable in a horizontal plane, with the angular deviationof the plane LE-and thereby of the supported measuring devicefrom theexact horizontal plane not being permitted to exceed 0.1 second of areat any circumferential point of the member 4. The member 4 is providedin this embodiment with three downwardly projecting legs or supportingportions 41 (only two shown) which rest on the ring member 2 above thewedge members 3. Strong springbiassing means is provided for biassingthe member 4 downwardly against the ring 2, and thus against the ring 1.For this purpose the member 4 is provided with the illustrated circularflange 5, having secured thereto radially outwardly projecting bolts 51which extend into openings 42 which are provided in the member 4upwardly above the legs 41. Rods 54 are secured with their lower ends 55to the ring member 2, or if desired to the ring member 1, and theirupper ends extend through the flange 5 and carry stacks 52 of dishedsprings which can be compressed in a biassing sense, that is in a sensecausing the member 4 to be pressed downwardly against the members 1 and2, by tightening the nuts 53 screwed onto the upper free ends of therods 54. It will be appreciated that a suitable number of such rods willbe provided. This, however, is also not novel and is illustrated only byway of example and for better understanding of the invention.

Because of the required precision adjustment which has been discussedbefore, one embodiment of my invention is incorporated in theillustrated construction. Specifically, the member 4 is providedupwardly above the legs 41, and thus at three equi-angularly spacedlocations with a slot in its intermediate section, that is between theupper edge face and the respective leg 41. Thus, in the slotted regionsI provide two wall portions 44 and 45 which are respectively deformedradially outwardly and radially inwardly so as to bulge in the mannerillustrated, and they define between themselves alenticularly-configurated gap 46. It will now be appreciated that anyone of the wall portions of the member 4 which is thus configurated,that is a portion extending from the respective leg 41 to the upper edgeface above this leg 41, may be in itself considered the equivalent of anindependent structural member provided with my novel invention. In theillustrated embodiment, however, three such structural members areintegrated as part of the member 4. Evidently, a rod or other membersimilarly slotted comes within the scope of the present invention.

The member 4 may be provided in form of a steel casting, if desired,with the wall portions 44, 45 and the lenticular gap therebetween beingprovided during the casting operation.

In further accordance with the invention the wall portions 44 and 45 ofthe illustrated embodiment are pro vided with centrally locatedregistering radial bores 47, and through each set of these bores aspindle 6 (one illustrated) extends. The spindle 6 has a head 61 whichengages the outer side of the wall portion 44 and a free end whichprojects inwardly through the wall portion 45 is provided with afine-adjustment screw thread 62. A sleeve-shaped nut member 63 isthreaded onto the screw thread 62 and bears upon the wall portion 45 viaa thrust 4 bearing 64 through which it transmits stresses in its axialdirection to the wall portion 45 through the intermediary of a ringmember 65.

The nut member 63 constitutes the drive wheel of a multi-stage reductiongear of which I have illustrated only the gear wheels 66, 67. Evidently,the specific construction of such a gear may be selected as desired. ItWill for instance be understood that the gear may be driven via aservomotor, or that it may be operated by hand. It is possible forexample to construct the reduction gear that there is a reduction of123,200 between the (non-illustrated) actuating means for the reductiongear and the sleeve-shaped nut member 63. Of course, this gear ratio isgiven only by way of example and is by no means to be consideredlimiting.

Operation of the reduction gear, that is turning of the nut member 63 ina sense causing it to exert stresses on the wall portion 45, the wallportions 44 and 45 are compressed towards one another across the gap 46in the direction of the arrow P6. This results in a concomitantlongitudinal extension of the member 4 in the direction of the arrow P4.This extension takes place, of course, only in the region of the member4 where my invention is incorporated. The member 4 is provided atopposite sides of the respective slotted portions with substantiallyL-shaped cut-outs 43 so as to facilitate bending of the wall of themember 4 in the region of the zones C which occurs when the elongationjust described takes place. Evidently, the elongation can be reversed byreducing the compression stresses acting upon the wall portions 44, 45.By suitable adjustment the length variations, or in this embodiment theheight variations which can be obtained in this manner and which arevery small, can be very precisely selected and are of coursereproducible at will. If desired, the gear reduction ratio and the pitchof the screw thread 62 for the nut means 63 may be so selected that agiven number of turns of the (non-illustrated) drive or actuating memberfor the reduction gear-for example twelve such full turnsresult in atilting of the upper edge face of the member 4, that is of the plane LEof this upper edge face, with respect to the two horizontal plane by onesecond of arc. In any case, however, the arrangement can be made soprecise that adjustments on the order of 0.1 second of arc can still beobtained with great precision and can be reproduced at will.

-It will be appreciated that this is by no means the only applicationfor the present invention. For instance, the invention can be embodiedin a differently configurated structural member and can be used foradjusting a positioning or supporting mechanism for a tool in a machine,or for other purposes.

It will also be appreciated that the invention is applicable not only tothe slotted configuration shown by way of example in the drawing, butthat it is also conceivable to construct a structural member in such amanner as to for example eliminate one of the wall portions 44 or 45.If, for example, it is assumed that the structural member were tocomprise only the upper and lower sections and for example the wallportion 44 with the Wall portion 45 not being integral as shown, thensuch a wall portion corresponding to the wall portion 45 could beseparately provided and for example Welded to the structural member.This would of course result in a construction whose operation would bethe same as what has been described above.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anadjusting arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A support structure capable of providing extremely accurate leveladjustment, comprising an annular support; a cylindrical structuralmember of elastically deformable material mounted on said support withits longitudinal axis in upright orientation and having an upper axialend face, said cylindrical structural member having a circumferentialWall integrally provided at least at three equiangularly spacedlocations with respective pairs of juxtaposed, laterally spaced wallportions and the wall portions of each pair each having a top and bottomend and being so formed as to be integral with each other at therespective ends, thereby defining between said juxtaposed wall portionsof each pair a respective gap; and a force applying means provided ateach of said gaps and operatively connected to the respective juxtaposedwall portions for applying a force in a direction across the respectivegap and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cylindricalstructural element so as to cause the respective juxtaposed wallportions to elastically deform when force is applied, thereby inducing astress in the elastically deformable material causing said material toyield in elastic strain deformation, whereby to obtain preciseadjustment of said upper axial end face with reference to a given planeby requisite operation of the respective force applying means.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said structural memberconsists of metallic material.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall portions memberand said circumferential wall are of one piece with one another.

4. A structure as defined in claim 7; said force applying meanscomprising screw-threaded means extending across said gaps connectingsaid wall portions and being operative relatively for deflecting thelatter across the respective gap to lesser or greater extents at thewill of an operator and for obtaining lesser or greater adjustments.

5. A structure as defined in claim 8, said force applying means furthercomprising turning means associated with said nut means and includingreduction-gear means for facilitating turning of said nut means.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5; and further comprisingthrust-bearing means interposed between said one wall portion and saidnut means for transmitting stresses therebetween.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1, said circumferential wall of saidcylindrical structural member being split at the respectivecircumferential locations to thereby provide the respective pairs ofjuxtaposed wall portions; and wherein said gaps are of substantiallylenticular crosssectional configuration.

8. A structure as defined in claim 4, one of said wall portions of eachpair being provided with an opening facing the other wall portion, andwherein said screwthreaded means comprises a bolt extending through saidopening and having one end rigid with said other wall portion and another end projecting outwardly through said opening of said one wallportion; said force applying means further comprising nut means threadedonto said other end and being threadedly displaceable thereon to therebyengage said one wall portion and effect inward deflecting of said Wallportions across the respective gap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,063 12/1909 Cooke 2481783,122,840 3/1964 Karstens 33--207 652,404 6/1900 Sharp 254126 3,317,1875/1967 Steppon 254-126 FOREIGN PATENTS 139,122 7/1959 Russia 7395RICHARD C. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner M. SMO-LLAR, Assistant ExaminerU.S. c1. X.R.

